HOUSTON - A total of 18 regular season matches, including nine at home, highlight the new 2014 Rice Soccer schedule head coach Nicky Adams announced.

The Owls' 2014 soccer season first gets underway with a pair of preseason matches on August 15 & 17, (Friday & Sunday), followed by the official opener on Aug. 22 at longtime state rival Baylor. The Owls then return home to Holloway Field for the home-opener the University of Dayton, the defending Atlantic 10 Conference regular season champions from 2013.

The schedule is split equally with home and road matches. The Owls also host high-profile non-conference clashes against Vanderbilt from the SEC and the Air Force Academy from the Mountain West, as well as state foe Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

A remodeled slate of C-USA opponents to visit Rice this fall includes C-USA runner-up North Texas, as well as Southern Miss, Louisiana Tech, Old Dominion and Charlotte. Three of the nine home matches are scheduled for Friday nights while five are on Sunday afternoons. The Air Force match is scheduled for Sept. 20, a making for a full Saturday of on-campus intercollegiate athletics.

Rice's 2014 road games are sure to prove challenging to a young Owl squad that finished fourth in the C-USA's Western Division. After opening the year at Baylor, the Owls quickly have a pair of road in hostile territory the following weekend with games at longtime rival Lamar and SEC power LSU. On Sept. 12 the Blue & Gray play on the road against another SEC stalwart, Arkansas. The Razorbacks went on to play in the NCAA Tournament.

The Owls' C-USA road slate consists of UTEP, Texas-San Antonio, Florida International, and Florida Atlantic - all of which Rice had to play on the road last season. The team closes out the C-USA regular season on October 30 at UAB.

Coach Adams explained the demanding schedule is by design. Facing talented opposition not only builds-up Rice's Rating Power Index (R.P.I.), it serves to get the team ready for league games during the second half of the season.

"We are very excited about the 2014 season," coach Adams said. "Our team had a great spring season and we are ready for the challenges ahead. We have eight non-conference matches with some of the best teams in the SEC, Big 12 and Atlantic 10. These matches will definitely prepare us for an always tough C-USA schedule."

Season tickets for Rice soccer will be available beginning in July. For ticket information to all Rice events, contact the ticket office at 713-522-OWLS (6957). The full 2014 Rice soccer schedule is as follows: